Mexican writer and director Alejandro González Iñárritu has delivered a story inside a story about a past his use by date movie star, Keaton, who previously reaped the riches and empty adulation that went with his role of playing the big screen superhero Birdman. He is seeking redemption (artistically and humanly) by writing, directing and starring in his own Broadway play.

Alejandro uses music masterfully as the first three quarters of the film is set to a drum solo and not the usual film score music. This drum solo, with its odd punctuations and time signatures has the effect of putting you on edge and never letting you get comfortable. This also applies to the great work of the actors. Keaton is brilliant with all of his ticks and nervous affectations (including the voice in his head that comes from his alter ego Birdman). Emma Stone is also great as the hot mess bottle blonde daughter and Edward Norton sizzles as well as a Broadway actor that take method acting to new heights.

The line between reality and fantasy has never been more lusciously disregarded as Birdman takes on a staggering number of acting clichés as it tells its story. The acting and directing is consistently superb and surprises wait at almost every turn. This is the kind of film that gets the year off to a great start.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

The film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman and Babel) tells a story based on a book by Michael Punke called The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge. The book was inspired by the life of a 19th century fur trapper named Hugh Glass. The trapper profession during Glass’ lifetime was highlighted by an existence of extreme hardship from both the harshness of the land and the extremes of the weather.

During an excursion collecting fur pelts in the unsettled wilderness of the Louisiana Purchase, Glass is mauled by a bear and basically left for dead. He clings to life and thus begins an amazing journey back to the land of the living. He faces dangers at every step of the way. You as an audience member get to the point where you think that he just can’t catch a break as he encounters life-threatening moments from the flora, fauna and human elements in his surrounds.

The acting performances are stunning, the direction spot on and the landscape never short of awe inspiring, this is a story that needs to be seen twenty metres wide in a dark room. It’s work but the rewards are real.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-revenant